— Entertainment Weekly is reporting that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has been tapped to host the revival of Tough Enough on the USA Network.

The show premieres April 4, following Monday Night Raw.

— The Jan. 27 episode of WWE Superstars on WGN America scored a 0.64 cable rating with 755,000 viewers. Viewership was up from last week’s episode, which was a 0.49 cable rating with 565,000 viewers.

The midnight replay scored a 0.17 cable rating with 120,000 viewers.

— The WrestleReunion website noted that Edge was at today’s convention at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton. He’s not there as a scheduled guest, but was visiting former colleague Shane Helms.

source: PWInsider.com

— In regards to WWE reaching out to Al Snow, Hardcore Holly, or other former Tough Enough personnel to be part of the show’s revival on the USA Network, one company insider said, “Not a chance in hell.” It was also stressed that WWE would be much more likely to go with those currently affiliated with the organization.

— Matches taped tonight in Little Rock, Arkansas for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars on WGN America are as follows:

* David Hart Smith and Darren Young vs. Primo and Zack Ryder

* Tyson Kidd vs. Yoshi Tatsu

— William Regal beat NXT Rookie Johnny Curtis in a dark match prior to tonight’s Raw broadcast in Little Rock, Arkansas.

sources: Pro Wrestling Torch, prowrestling.net

– Casting is underway for the return season of WWE’s reality competition, Tough Enough.

The show will premiere on Monday, April 4th, the night after WrestleMania, immediately following WWE RAW on the USA Network. The following week, it will move to its normal timeslot of 8pm (Eastern), as the lead-in to RAW.

According to a  WWE source, the company is planning to introduce the cast of Tough Enough either at WrestleMania or on RAW the next night.

– In what seems to be an interesting indicator of how WWE views the RAW and SmackDown brands, WWE charges more for RAW live event tickets than it does for SmackDown shows. RAW tickets range from $20-75, while SmackDown seats go for $15-60.

– WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki underwent gall bladder surgery earlier this month. He’s recovering well but is scheduled to remain hospitalized until next week.

– There is a band called “Owen Hart” that has an album coming out next week on Vitriol Records.

– Wrestler Brandon Barker, a graduate of Lance Storm’s wrestling school, is scheduled to start with WWE developmental soon once he gets his US work visa. Barker was signed to a developmental deal back in October.

(Partial Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

— A number of mainstream news outlets including Entertainment Weekly and Variety are covering the revival of WWE’s Tough Enough reality series on the USA Network. A blogger for Entertainment Weekly queried if Al Snow would be returning as a trainer, but a USA representative stated that decisions about judges and mentors have yet to be made.

Snow currently works for TNA Wrestling as a producer.

— The Rupp Arena is no longer advertising Rey Mysterio for this Saturday’s Smackdown live event in Lexington, Kentucky. Alberto Del Rio will instead face Big Show.

— Former WWE star Jim Powers celebrates his 52nd birthday today. He announced his retirement from professional wrestling last month.

— As WWE announced earlier today, Tough Enough will be returning on April 4th and will air on the USA Network for 10 weeks prior to Monday Night RAW.

WWE has posted the official application online, which you can download here in .PDF format.

The application and a video must be submitted by January 14th. If you cannot download the application, e-mail ToughEnoughCasting@shedmediaus.com with your name, age, city, and state, phone numbers, a current photo of you, and a brief paragraph about you and why you think you can make it in WWE.

— To follow up on the news of former TNA Knockouts champion Awesome Kong signing with World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE reportedly asked Kong to clear up her legal situation in Florida before going to work for the company. Kong was arrested last month in Hillsborough County, Florida for driving without a suspended license. According to a WWE source, Kong no longer lives in Florida but went back in December to turn herself in and resolve the traffic violation. (Source: prowrestling.net)

To follow up on what was reported in the New York Times article on Sunday night, World Wrestling Entertainment issued the following press release on Monday morning, officially announcing the return of Tough Enough on April 4th:

USA NETWORK PICKS UP TOUGH ENOUGH

LOS ANGELES, CA –January 3, 2011 – USA Network has given a ten episode order to “WWE TOUGH ENOUGH,” a non-scripted series in collaboration with World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and Shed Media US. “WWE TOUGH ENOUGH,” slated to debut April 4, 2011, will feature a group of twelve individuals looking for an once-in-a-lifetime shot to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. The grand prize winner will be awarded a contract with WWE, joining its roster of talent.

“WWE TOUGH ENOUGH” will premiere at 11/10c the day after WrestleMania® XXVII and immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut “WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW®.” It will then move to its regularly scheduled slot, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11th.

“We’re thrilled to tag team with the WWE in bringing TOUGH ENOUGH back to television,” said Chris McCumber, evp marketing, digital and brand strategy, USA Network and Jeff Wachtel, president original programming USA Network & co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions. “By focusing on both the physical and the performance challenges of becoming a Superstar, the show will shine a new light on what it takes to truly make your mark in the WWE universe.”

“For years, the return of `TOUGH ENOUGH has been one of the most talked about and speculated topics amongst reality show fans and television industry insiders,” said Kevin Dunn, Executive Vice President, Television Production, WWE. “With the combined promotional muscle of USA Network and WWE, the right time slot and the reality show experience of Shed Media, WWE is looking forward to the successful return of one of television’s first reality show hits.”

The diverse group of men and women will live and train together in a house in Los Angeles. To see who has what it takes to be the next WWE Superstar or Diva, the contestants will battle it out each week in a series of unique challenges designed to test for such characteristics as showmanship, creativity, athleticism and desire, just to name a few. Each episode will feature a current WWE Superstar, who will introduce the contenders to a quality that they must possess to make it to the top of the sports entertainment world. Along the way, viewers will witness the trials and tribulations of what it takes to be one of the best in the world’s greatest sports entertainment organization.

Each episode will conclude with the elimination of one of the hopefuls who is left outside of the ring, while those that remain will move one step closer to their dream. In the final episode, the remaining contestants will battle it out for the grand prize.

Shed Media US, noted for its strong characters and memorable casting in the non-scripted arena, will produce WWE TOUGH ENOUGH. The company’s previous reality credits include “The Real Housewives of New York City,” “Who Do You Think You Are,” “World’s Strictest Parents.” Producing for Shed Media US are Alex Demyanenko and Eric Van Wagenen.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 98.5 millionU.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired televisionseries and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo and Mexico City. Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

* Details On Awesome Kong’s WWE Debut & A Top Star Returning Sooner Than Expected

(For more corporate WWE news, visit Corporate.WWE.com)

The New York Times published an article on Sunday announcing that the new season of “Tough Enough” will premiere on the USA Network on Monday, April 4th – the night after WrestleMania. The show will

The new “Tough Enough” will air on Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. EST, right before WWE RAW, creating a three-hour block of WWE programming on USA.

Tough Enough will feature 12 men and women competing for a one-year WWE contract. At this time, there’s been no word about a cash prize for the show’s winner.

WWE’s executive TV producer Kevin Dunn says WWE hopes the show will draw in new viewers who will stick around for WWE RAW.

“It’s a way to bring eyeballs to the WWE product that wouldn’t necessarily watch a live event wrestling show.”

Dunn told the New York Times that USA has been interested in Tough Enough for years and wants to add more “unscripted” programming to its schedule.

For more on Tough Enough’s return, visit NYTimes.com.

— Lizzy Valentine revealed to fans last week on Facebook that the casting director for the upcoming season of WWE Tough Enough is urging her to submit an application for the USA Network reality show. She wrote:

“I was contacted by the casting director of WWE Tough Enough. They want me to submit, but I really had no intention of doing so. What do u guys think? Your opinions are extremely important in this decision!!!”

Valentine has taken part in tryouts before WWE officials in the past, but has never been offered a contract. She enrolled in the 2005 Diva Search contest, but did not make the final cut. More recently, she appeared on Wrestlicious Takedown as Kandy Kisses and worked a tryout match for TNA Wrestling.

She also appeared as Evan Bourne’s valet on the short-lived MTV series Wrestling Society X.

— Former D-Generation X members Billy Gunn and Road Dogg have launched accounts on Twitter.

— Former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin is advertised to participate in Q&A and autograph session at the TD Garden in Boston prior to the Boston Blazers lacrosse game on Feb. 12.

— A radio advertisement for the Feb. 5 SmackDown live event at the Richo Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario is advertising The Nexus vs. Big Show in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match (Thanks to Matthew)

— Casting for the Tough Enough revival on the USA Network will begin shortly after New Year’s Day.

— WWE returns to the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut on Mar. 18, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. for a Raw live event. Tickets go on sale Jan. 14, 2011 at noon via Ticketmaster.com.

— Today is Raw Superstar Primo’s birthday. He turns 28 years old.

source: PWInsider.com

— WWE officials paid a visit to the company’s Tampa based developmental facility this week interviewing contracted talent about participating in the revival of Tough Enough on the USA Network. Previous seasons of the program solely featured unsigned talent.

The casting process is expected to conclude next month with the series likely debuting in the spring.

— Natalya noted on Twitter that a Santa’s Little Helper Match will take place at Tribute to the Troops, which is being taped this Saturday in Fort Hood, Texas.

She wrote, “Looking for a santas helper outfit for tribute to the troops- but santa’s helpers aren’t as built in the front and the back as this one!”

— The NFL’s Tennessee Titans are preparing to oppose WWE’s registration of the trademark ‘Titantron’.

source: PWInsider.com

WWE has begun the process of casting talent for the returning reality TV competition, WWE Tough Enough. The show is set to air on the USA Network in 2011.

Here are some details from the casting call, which runs until January 22, 2011:

Are you TOUGH ENOUGH to become the next WWE SUPERSTAR?

If you believe you have what it takes to not only earn the contract, but excel in World Wrestling Entertainment… Apply now. Closely follow the application instructions.

For more information on how to apply, check out the casting call information WWE sent to RealityWanted.com.

– Monday’s 10/25 episode of WWE RAW drew a 3.1 cable rating, virtually even with last week. The show did hours of 3.06 and 3.08 and averaged 4,641,000 viewers for the two hour broadcast. Not a great sign of momentum coming out of Sunday’s Bragging Rights pay-per-view, but at least they’ve got 2 consecutive weeks above 3.0.

– The 10/23 episode of WWE AM RAW did a 0.64 cable rating with 835,000 viewers.

– WWE is planning on making changes to the format of “Tough Enough” before it hits the USA Network, although the nature of those changes is unknown at this time. We have heard that WWE is talking with a few top production companies that specialize in reality television about running the show.

— Yesterday’s media report of Tough Enough being revived is true as those close to the situation indicate it’s a done deal that the reality television show will reemerge on the USA Network. Time slots being discussed include 11:00 p.m. following Raw and Tuesday nights at 10:00 p.m.

— HollywoodLife.com’s report earlier this month of Justin Bieber possibly singing “America the Beautiful” at WrestleMania XXVII is true, according to a company source. WWE officials are hopeful the land the singer for the event and are currently negotiating with his representatives.

— WWE aired a video package with R-Truth’s new song last night on Raw in an attempt to get fans familiar with its lyrics so they’ll sing along. They feel it’s not nearly as over as his initial one, but are still trying to get it over.

source: www.f4wonline.com

Fans of WWE Tough Enough are gonna love this one – the WWE reality show that ran from 2001-2004 and produced WWE superstars John Morrison and The Miz is very close to being resurrected.

Deadline.com is reporting that the USA Network is close to ordering a new season of WWE’s Tough Enough show.

The story notes that revival of Tough Enough came together separately from USA’s current efforts in charting unscripted programming and stems from its relationship with.

Tough Enough, which features contestants competing for a WWE contract, aired on MTV for three seasons. It moved to UPN in 2004 where it aired for a season as part of SmackDown. It is expected to run in tandem with Monday Night Raw.

Aside from John Morrison and The Miz, other notable cast members from the show include Josh Matthews, Matt Morgan, Christopher Nowinski, Maven Huffman and Nidia.